Shaking-grate.



VPATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

A. B. WILLOUGHBY.

SHAKING GRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1906- I lwgmrofi' v I r I v I ATTUflI/EK WITNESSES v I h Z I f UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

SHAKlNG-GRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed May 14.1906. Serial No. 316,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED B. WIL. LOUGHBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaking-Grates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a shaking grate; and in such connection it relates more particularly to the construction and arrange ment of the grate bars to prevent the disturbing or breaking of'the upper surface of the fuelbed during the shaking of the grate and holding the grate bars at an even temperature throughout, irrespective of the heat generated by the fuel resting thereon.

The principal objects of my invention are first, to remove refuse due to combustion by a rocking movement of the grate-bars, without disturbing or breaking the upper surface or crust of the burning fuel; second, to so arran e for this purpose the upper surface of the ongitudinal ribs of the grate-bars in the arc of a circle so as to permit of, the successive engagement or rubbing of each of the ribs against the fuel bed to effectually remove refuse therefrom and to drop the same into the ashit to thus maintain at all times a clear fire t ird, to so shape the longitudinal ribs of the grate-bars at their upper surface so as to obviate sharp edges or corners which are readily destroyed by the fire and damaged by the implements of the fire-man; fourth, to so sha e the bars in cross-section that the ribs wil be evenly cooled and thus expand uniformly; fifth, to provide the bars with outer longitudinal ribs of less depth than the intermediate ribs so as to permit of their use in furnaces of annular or other outline; and sixth, to extend the intermediate longitudinal ribs below the bearing surfaces of the bars to maintain the center of gravity below the center of support.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which Figure 1, 1s a view, illustrating partly in crosssection and partly in elevation, a furnace, a grate arranged therein formed of ribbed bars of varying depth and arranged in the arc of a circle at their upper surface, embodying main features of my said invention. Fig: 2, is a longitudinal sectional View of the 4, is a similar view, illustrating partly in cross-section and partly in elevation my said grate-bar and one of the supports thereof.

Referring to the drawings a, represents a grate -bar, consisting of an oblong body formed of longitudinal ribs 1) and c, and cross-ribs d, and preferably terminating at each end in a solid bearing portion having bearing faces 6 and c and a centrally arranged projection or rib 6 As shown in Fig: 4, the bearing faces c and c of the bar a, rests upon the bearingfgfaoes f and f, of a bearer-projection 7, preferably extending laterally from a bearer-bar The rib c of the bar (L, however, projects loosely into a depression formed in the bearer-projection 7, and thus holds the bar a securely in position on the projection 7, when the same occupies its normal horizontal position and when the bar is rocked or shaken thereon. In order to prevent the lifting of the rib e sufficiently high during the rocking of the bar a, to bring the same out of engagement with the bearer-projection f and at the same time to limit the rocking movement of the bar a, the horizontal bearing faces e and e,

thereof, extend into downwardly and outwardly projecting bearing faces a and 6 which are brought alternately into engagement with the inclined sides f and f, of the projection 7. In the present arrangement of the support of the bar a, the same when shaken or rocked will alternately turn on the outer edges 7" and f of the bearing faces f and f as the fulcral points thereof, as will be readily understood from Fig: 4. When the bar a, is rocked or shaken to remove refuse,

due to combustion, the same, by lifting the A end or outer ribs 0, willbreak the upper crust or surface of the fuel. In order to prevent such breaking of the crust of the fire and to permit of a successive rubbing or engagement of each of the ribs 6 and c, with the fuel bed to remove refuse therefrom, the upper surface 0 of the outer ribs 0, are arranged below the upper surface 5 of the intermediate ribs 7). Thus, if the bar a, is alternately rocked on the fulcral points f and f the outer ribs 0, will not be lifted to a height which will cause a breaking of the upper crust or surface of the fuel bed and a clear fire will in such manner be maintained at all times. The lateral rubbing action of the ribs 7), and c, which have been successively brought into contact with the fuel bed will cause a thorough removal of ash and clinker as well as dropping into the ash-pit. By this arrangement of the upper surface 6 and c of the ribs b and c, of the bars a, forming the grate A, the entire lower portion of the fuel resting thereupon will be acted upon by all the ribs b and c, and not the outer ribs only, as is the case, in grate-bars having a flat upper surface. In grates formed of flat bars the ashis not completely removed by the same, and the crust of the fuel bed is broken during the rocking or shaking of the grate, causing thereby a deadening of the fire of the furnace. The upper surface I) and c of the ribs 1) and c, of the bars a, is preferably arranged in the are of a circle, which, however, is struck from a point below the fulcral points 0 and 0 as otherwise the ribs Z) and 0, would rub together against the fuel bed, which would not tend to feed the ash with equally good results toward the opening formed between adjacent bars when rocked or shaken. In order to eliminate all sharp edges or corners, which aredestroyed by the fire and offer an obstruction to the implements-of the fire-1nan the upper surfaces?) and c of each of the ribs 1) and 0, are rounded and the transverse ribs d, con necting the same are depressed below the ribs 1) and c, as shown in Figs: 2 and 3. Furthermore, the fact that only four ribs are used to form thegrate-bar a, permits each of the ribs band 0, to be made strong and durable and thus to impart to the bar a great strength which is not diminished during use owing to the absence of sharp edges or corners destroyed by fire or-damaged by the implements of the firemen. As shown in Fig: 2, the inner ribs 6, of thebars a, terminate adjacent to the base of the bearer projection 7, while the outer ribs 0, extend slightly below the bearing faces f and 7, of the same. The inner ribs 1), are therefore, of a sufficient depth to maintain the center of gravity of the bars (1, below the center of support formed by the bearer projection f while the outer ribs 0, being of less depth per mit of the use of the bars in annular or curved furnaces, as the same will not be brought into engagement with the wall thereof, but clear the same, when the bars are rocked or shaken. In addition to these uses to which the so constructed bars may be readily put, the ribs of the bars, owing to their different depths and angular outlines permit of a uniform cooling and thus of an equal expansion of the ribs 1), and c, in the following manner As shown in Figs: 1 and 3, the inner ribs b, owing to their greater depth will form combined a long narrow passage (F, for air drawn through the bars a, by theburning of fuel resting thereon, while the outer ribs 0, in conjunction with the inner ribs 5, form substantially triangular shaped air-passages (P, the apex of which rests at the lower inner end of the ribs 0. The side 0 of the outer ribs 0, will therefore be arranged at an acute angle to the side I)", of the ribs b, and air entering the passage (Z and striking the side 0 will thus be deflected by the same against the side b and in this manner the outer ribs 0, will assist air passing through the passage al in the cooling of the inner ribs 1). The inner ribs 6, of greater depth will therefore be 'cooled to the same extent as the outer ribs 0,

which require less air for their cooling, and owing to the contracted outlet of the air passages d and d the air entering the same will be retained in the passages sufliciently long to cool the ribs 1) and a, uniformly throughout.

By this uniform cooling an equal expansion of the ribs 1) and c, at the bottom as well as at their uppersurfaces takes place and any destruction. of the same due to growth of the iron caused by undue expansion and not returned to the normal shape and size thereof is thus effectually prevented. Furthermore, the passages d and (1 are sufficiently large to permit of a ready exit of ash or clinker therethrough. suitable for the use of either large or small coal and for either soft or hard coal, as practice has demonstrated.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A grate, consisting of bars, each of which is provided with ribs terminating at their upper surface in different planes and at their lower respective ends in bearing portions having horizontal and inclined bearing faces, a rib projecting from each of the horizontal bearing faces, bearers for said bars having horizontal and inclined bearing faces and a depression arranged in each of the horizontal faces thereof, said ribs arranged to hold said bars on said bearers by engaging the depressions thereof, the inclined faces of said bars and bearers arranged to limit the rocking or shaking .movement of said bars, and said ribs arranged when said bars are rocked to successively engage the fuel resting thereon.

2. A grate, consisting of bars, each of which is provided with ribs terminating at their upper surface in different planes and at their respective ends in bearing portions having horizontal and inclined bearing faces, a rib projecting from each of the horizontal bearing faces, bearers for said bars having horizontal and inclined bearing faces and a depression arranged in each of the horizontal faces thereof, said ribs arranged to hold said bars on said bearers by engaging the depressions thereof, the inclined faces of said bars and bearers arranged to limit the rocking or shaking movement of said bars, and said ribs arranged when said bars are rocked to succes- The bars so constructed are sively rub against the fuel Without breaking the crust thereof.

3. A grate, consisting of .bars, each of which is provided With ribs of varying depths and varying angular outlines and terminating at their upper surface in different planes and at their respective ends in bearing portions having horizontal and inclined bearing faces, a rib projecting from each of the horizontal bearing faces, bearers for said bars having horizontal and inclined bearing faces and a depression arranged in each of the horizontal faces thereof, said ribs arranged to hold said bars on said bearers by engaging the depressions thereof, the inclined faces of said bars and bearers arranged to limit the rocking or shaking movement of said bars and certain of said ribs arranged to deflect air against certain other ribs to aid in the cooling thereof.

4. A grate, consisting of bars, each of Which is provided With ribs of varying depth and varying angularoutlines and terminatbearing facesand a depression arranged in each of the horizontal faces thereof, said ribs arranged to hold said bars on said bearers by engaging the depressions thereof, the inclined faces of said bars and bearers arranged to limit the rocking or shaking movement of said bars, and the outer ones of said ribs adapted to deflect air against the inner ribs to aid in the cooling thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' ALFRED B. WILLOUGHBY.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER DoUGLAss, THOMAS M. SMITH. 

